While modern technology can feel overwhelming given how quickly it changes, it can also be incredibly useful. These five free apps are easy to use, available for Apple and Android devices, and designed to add value to your life.

1. Skype
One of the real wonders of technology is how easy it makes connecting with loved ones around the world. Skype is used by hundreds of millions of people each day to stay in touch online and by downloading the Skype app from the iStore or Google Play if you have an Android device, you can chat face to face with your friends and family and stay actively involved in their lives.

2. Lumosity
Want to up your mental fitness? Then it’s time you downloaded Lumosity. This brain-boosting app has 95 million users and features seven game categories that test your speed, memory, attention, flexibility, problem solving, vocabulary and comprehension, and math skills. Does it work? The scientists at Lumosity have conducted several tests to examine the effectiveness of the app, with one randomised trial showing that “After ten weeks, the Lumosity group improved in performance across a battery of cognitive assessments… More specifically, the Lumosity group showed statistically significant improvements on subtests of working memory, arithmetic reasoning, and processing speed.”

3. Medisafe
Whether you’re taking life-saving medication for a chronic disease or condition or daily vitamins and minerals, the Medisafe app can help you manage them easily and accurately. Not only does it send you a reminder when it’s time to take your meds, it also lets you know when it’s time to refill your prescription. What’s more, you can list your caregiver – whether that’s a professional carer or a family member – on the app and they’ll be notified if you accidentally miss a dose.

4. SmartBP
According to The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, “More than one in three adults live with high blood pressure,” with the condition being “responsible for one in every two strokes and two in every five heart attacks.” Plus, your risk for hypertension increases as you get older. With SmartBP on your phone or device, you can keep a record of your blood pressure measurements and track your progress, so that you’re always in control of your health.

5. Find your Phone
There’s very little more frustrating than forgetting where you’ve put your phone – especially when you’re rushing to get to an appointment, meet a friend, or fetch your grandkids from school. With Apple’s handy Find My iPhone app and Google Find My Device for Android, your days of hunting under cushions is over. Both apps enable you to locate your phone (or any other device) on a map, play a sound that helps you home in on it, and lock or erase your device remotely.